Shanghai's two airports are expected to handle 7 percent more passengers than last year during the annual travel peak period, bringing them almost on par with the city's railway, which is usually the main mode of transport during the festival period.

Pudong and Hongqiao airports are expected to handle 12.6 million passengers on both domestic and international flights during the travel peak that began yesterday and will last until March 12, the Shanghai Airport Authority said.

The number was slightly up, or a 7 percent growth on year, as a growing number of people take flights back home for the festival or take off for a week-long holiday. The city's three major railway stations — Shanghai South, Hongqiao and Shanghai main station — are expected to ferry 13.15 million passengers during the holiday period.

Nationwide, about 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during the holiday travel rush.

"A large number of passengers are expected at the Pudong Airport between February 9 and 13 as well as on February 21 and 22 when travelers and students fly back," an official with the Pudong airport said. It will send and receive a total of 8.2 million passengers during the travel peak. The airport is expected to handle a record of 210,000 passengers on February 21 and 22, which marks the end of the week-long Spring Festival holiday.